National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS)

Could you become a National Teaching Fellow?
  • Do you get lots of positive feedback from your students and/or colleagues?
  • Have you had notable successes in your teaching practice?
  • Do you influence your colleagues or your profession/discipline beyond SHU?

If you can show evidence of these things you may have a claim to excellence. This is a very competitive scheme but if you can show that your practice is outstanding, having transformational effects on your learners, you may be a suitable candidate for the National Teaching Scheme.

National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS)

The NTFS celebrates outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in Higher Education.  A National Teaching Fellowship award carries the entitlement to use the post nominals ‘NTF’ and has significant prestige in the HE sector.  Successful candidates are expected to engage in a number of promotional events as an ambassador of the scheme by supporting the on-going enhancement of learning and teaching. You would also join an active community of passionate and enthusiastic professionals working to enhance learning and teaching in HE.

The scheme is open to members of staff from all providers of higher education across the four nations of the UK.  Please note that your context is taken into account regarding the range and scope of impact you can be expected to have, which means the award is open to those working in non-teaching academic and professional roles as well as those in academic roles.

As an eligible institution, Sheffield Hallam can nominate up to three individuals per year.

Applying to be an NTF:

A case is made for excellence focussed on three criteria:

  1. Individual excellence: How you are enhancing and transforming student outcomes and/or the teaching profession.
  2. Raising the profile of excellence: How you support colleagues and influence support for student learning and/or the teaching profession and demonstrate impact and engagement beyond your immediate academic or professional role.
  3. Developing Excellence: The ways in which you engage in professional development activities and how these have impacted on how you teach and/or the students’ learning experience.
Submission process

If you are interested in finding out more about the NTF award, our development and support programme, and the submission process,  please email talent@shu.ac.uk to arrange an initial 1:1 conversation.

Further information & resources

NTF self-assessment form

Advance HE website – National Teaching Fellowship

Advance HE – Insight into the award criteria (video series)

Advance HE – guidance for NTF applicants 2024 

Advance HE Virtual NTFS Roadshows 2024 – insights and guidance through the NTF application process

Sheffield Hallam University NTF Network for current and aspiring NTFs  – including links to bios for all our current National Teaching Fellows

NTFS Allyship Scheme – aimed at improving the representation, progression and achievement of aspiring NTFs belonging to underrepresented groups.  Search for an NTF who has signed up to the allyship scheme.

Association of NTFs blog (UK network – subscribe for news, publications and events).   A new Jiscmail group has also been established in partnership with Advance HE for NTFs and aspiring NTFs.  The group will have an EDI focus to support HE providers in overcoming the challenges and barriers that aspiring NTFs may be facing.  Sign up to the Jiscmail group.

Need further inspiration? Take a look at this collection of news and blogs from the National Teaching Fellowship scheme.